Simple tips and advice on how to improve your home with this expert Home Improvement Blog.

Month: February 2017

Your roof is one of the most important investments to make when building a new property, and though they typically have a long lifespan, the materials exposed to the elements can face damage throughout the year. Maintaining your roof is the simplest way to avoid expensive repair costs in the future.

Whether it’s summer, or the middle of winter, a bit of attention to the state of your roof can go a long way. The tips below can be actioned on any roof shape or design. Check out these top tips to keeping your roof in great condition all year round.

Keep gutters clean

One of the best ways to keep your roof in great condition is to maintain the gutters and drainpipes at all times. Autumn and winter can be especially damaging to neglected gutters, with leaves and debris quickly blocking them. A blocked gutter can cause water to back up and freeze in the winter, damaging the roof and the walls of your building. Hire a professional to clear the gutters to ensure no blockages occur throughout the year.

Hire a professional maintenance company

Cleaning and repairing a roof yourself can be dangerous, and can only lead to more costs later down the line if your roof suffers from further damage. Hiring a professional roof maintenance service is the safest and most effective way to keep your roof up to standard.

Prevent ice dams forming

This can happen when heat inside your home melts ice or snow on the roof, and causes it to run down to the edges. When it then refreezes, this creates a blockage that can cause leaks and damage to your interior walls. Keeping your attic cool and ventilated is the best way to prevent heat escaping out the roof.

Check the inside

Checking the inside of your roof via the loft is an important part of ensuring it’s in good condition. If the paint on your ceiling is raised or bubbling in areas, this could be a sign of water damage from your roof. Likewise, damp spots or dark or browning spots could be an indication that water if leaking through your roof.

Clean it

A clean roof will ensure any chance of damage is reduced. Moss and mould can be rife on the top of your roof, as it is often exposed to varying temperatures and moisture. Keeping your roof free of moss and any debris that falls onto it will reduce the likelihood of water being stored on the surface and causing damage to the structure. Always use a professional to ensure the job is done properly and safely.

Survey the surrounding area

One of the biggest causes of damage to your roof is surrounding structures and trees potentially falling on it. Be sure to trim back any trees on your property that have grown over the roof, eliminating the risk of a heavy branch falling on your roof and causing damage or blockages.

Bed bugs have been on the increase lately, especially in larger cities, and can wreak havoc on even the most beautifully improved homes. This increased risk of bed bugs puts us more at risk of bites, and other health problems that are related to having an infestation in your home. Most people that suffer from a bed bug bite don’t have any reaction to it. But there are those that are incredibly allergic to them, which results in serious rashes and sometimes even blisters.

This is why it’s so important to control bed bug infestations when they occur. Bed bugs are resistant to a lot of pesticides, and may have been hidden in your home for a while before you’ve noticed their presence. Keeping up a consistent vacuuming regime will definitely help get rid of eggs and bugs hidden around your home, but what about if the bugs are hiding in your mattress?

Empire Pest Control have given us this great infographic on what to do if you find bed bugs in your mattress, and how to dispose of the mattress if you feel like you have no other choice.

The best treatment options for bed bugs is using heat. Bed bugs hate extreme temperatures, so exposing them to a lot of heat will kill them in every stage of life. A professional cleaning service will be able to offer you steam cleaning on your upholstery and household fabrics, which will get rid of the bed bugs effectively.

Bedding, pillow covers, duvets etc must be washed immediately, and then put on to tumble dry on a high heat. If you have delicate fabrics, such as silk, then have them professionally cleaned.

To treat a mattress properly, you must get the help of a professional pest controller. Empire Pest Control use heat treatment to kill bed bugs instantly. It’s a great non-toxic option that is safe for your whole family.

The common question of “how to move home?” is asked by many a house mover.

Simon Long Removals’ interactive timeline of how to move home documents the essential stage of planning involved throughout the entire home removals process, from 2 months before your move to the days following your home move.

Below you will find attached an infographic version of this interactive timeline, with the stage of a house move outlined as:

Gardens can easily attract attention because they often sit in front of properties. This means they play a great role in boosting your home’s value as well as its appeal. Keeping your garden in top shape, however, requires time, effort and money. If you are on a tight budget, this can pose a big challenge.

Fortunately, you don’t always have to burn holes in your wallet just to build and maintain an expensive-looking garden. In case you are wondering how, these few tricks can give you a clearer idea.

Screening

If there is an area in your garden that requires extensive and expensive renovation, you can use screening as a temporary solution. Apart from that it hides the unpleasant areas of your garden, it also enhances privacy.

Screening doesn’t have to involve building additional fences and tall walls. In fact, plants can work just as great. Bamboo, for example, can add height and make you fee closer to nature. In case you are looking for planters and boxers, you can try boxwood. For additional height, try to choose containers that are tall and slender.

Build better storage

The more gardening tools you have, the messier your lawn looks. This is particularly true if you don’t have any decent storage built. Aside from being unattractive, such clutter can also render your garden looking cheap and neglected- even if you didn’t mean it that way.

Instead of keeping your tools just about every part of your garden, it’s a good idea to pick a dedicated space for them. There are tons of DIY storage you can do or, if budget permits, you can purchase one from your local shop. Just make sure that the storage you will be buying or building will make it easier for you to access your tools. You wouldn’t want a storage that’s really neat-looking but is a bit hard to get tools from.

Get synthetic grass

Getting an artificial lawn for your garden can take guts, especially if you’ve been used to natural grass for so long. You’ll have to deal with the installation costs and the side comments from your nosy neighbors.

Despite these adjustments, synthetic turf isn’t all that bad. In fact, it’s convenient, cost-efficient and friendly to the environment. It doesn’t require constant maintenance as well which means you can forget about mowing every weekend.

There are synthetic gardens perfect for urban areas so you won’t have to worry even if you live in the big cities. These gardens usually come drainage holes that can prevent water from accumulating in areas where it shouldn’t be. You also get to choose the shape and size of the blades so you can get natural looking grass for your garden all year.

Upcycle furniture

You don’t always have to spend a huge amount of cash just to make your garden look expensive. If you have old pieces of furniture, you can upcycle them to save money.

Old wooden table and chairs, for example, can be buffed, painted and polished to give them a new look and feel. You can even turn your kid’s old bicycle as a planter and place it near your garden’s entrance. You can also make a small pond using old tires. Broken benches can be turned into swings while your old drawers can be used to house your vegetable gardens.

The nice thing about upcycling is that there’s virtually no limit as to what you can create. You also have a lot of control in terms of design and color. You’ll be less likely to throw out valuable items, too.